In a significant development in regional diplomacy, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Interim Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, embarked on a week-long visit to New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, October 9, 2025. This visit, announced by Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, marks the first time a senior Afghan diplomat has traveled to India since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The trip signals a cautious yet notable step toward strengthening ties between the Taliban-led interim administration in Kabul and the Indian government, which has historically maintained a complex relationship with Afghanistan’s political landscape. The visit, set to span from October 9 to October 16, 2025, is poised to address critical issues, including political relations, economic cooperation, trade expansion, and broader regional connectivity.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesman for Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, shared details of the visit through a post on X, the U.S.-based social media platform. According to Takal, Muttaqi’s agenda in New Delhi includes high-level discussions with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, as well as other senior Indian officials. The talks are expected to focus on fostering stronger bilateral ties, exploring opportunities for economic collaboration, and addressing matters of mutual interest in the region. This visit underscores a pragmatic shift in India’s approach to engaging with the Taliban-led interim government, despite not formally recognizing it as Afghanistan’s legitimate authority.
The significance of Muttaqi’s visit is amplified by the fact that it required a special exemption from the United Nations Security Council Committee, as confirmed by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during a press briefing on Friday, October 3, 2025. The exemption was necessary due to travel restrictions imposed on certain Taliban leaders under UN sanctions, reflecting the delicate balance of international diplomacy surrounding the Taliban’s interim administration. Jaiswal’s statement highlighted India’s willingness to engage with Afghan authorities on practical terms, even as the global community continues to grapple with the question of recognizing the Taliban government.
India’s diplomatic relations with Afghanistan have undergone significant changes in recent years. Following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government in August 2021, India closed its embassy in Kabul, citing security concerns and the uncertain political environment. The fall of the previous regime, led by President Ashraf Ghani, paved the way for the Taliban’s return to power, establishing an interim administration that has yet to gain widespread international legitimacy. However, in a pragmatic move, India resumed limited diplomatic operations in Kabul in 2022 by deploying a “technical team” to oversee humanitarian assistance and maintain a minimal presence. This team has gradually facilitated direct engagement with the Taliban-led administration, laying the groundwork for the current visit.
The October 2025 visit builds on a series of incremental steps toward dialogue between New Delhi and Kabul. In May 2025, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held his first direct phone conversation with Muttaqi, marking a milestone in bilateral communication. Earlier, in February 2025, India sent a high-level delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to meet Muttaqi in Dubai, signaling a willingness to explore diplomatic channels despite the absence of formal recognition. Additionally, in 2024, an Indian delegation visited Afghanistan for high-level discussions with Afghan officials, further indicating India’s strategic interest in maintaining influence in the region.
Economic ties between India and Afghanistan have been a cornerstone of their relationship, even amidst political upheavals. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $890 million in 2024, reflecting a robust economic partnership despite the challenges posed by Afghanistan’s ongoing instability. India has historically been one of Afghanistan’s key trading partners, with Indian exports including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and consumer goods, while Afghanistan exports dried fruits, nuts, and other agricultural products to India. The discussions during Muttaqi’s visit are expected to explore avenues for further expanding trade, potentially through improved connectivity and infrastructure projects.
India’s engagement with Afghanistan is shaped by its broader strategic interests in South Asia and Central Asia. Afghanistan’s geographic position as a gateway to Central Asia makes it a critical partner for India’s ambitions to enhance regional connectivity through initiatives like the Chabahar Port project in Iran, which provides an alternative trade route bypassing Pakistan. The Taliban’s control over Afghanistan has complicated India’s regional strategy, given New Delhi’s concerns about security, terrorism, and the influence of rival powers such as Pakistan and China. By engaging with the Taliban-led administration, India seeks to safeguard its interests while maintaining a delicate balance in its foreign policy.
The visit also reflects the Taliban’s efforts to break out of international isolation. Since returning to power, the Taliban has sought to establish diplomatic and economic ties with regional powers, including India, China, and Russia, to stabilize Afghanistan’s economy and address its humanitarian crisis. Muttaqi’s trip to New Delhi is part of a broader outreach strategy to secure investment, trade, and development assistance, even as the interim government faces challenges in gaining formal recognition from the international community.
For India, the decision to host Muttaqi represents a pragmatic acknowledgment of the Taliban’s de facto control over Afghanistan. While New Delhi has not extended formal recognition to the interim administration, its willingness to engage directly with Taliban leaders suggests a shift toward a more flexible approach. This approach is driven by India’s desire to maintain influence in Afghanistan, counterbalance the growing presence of other regional powers, and contribute to stability in a country that has endured decades of conflict.
The visit is likely to generate significant attention both within the region and globally, as it tests the boundaries of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. Critics may argue that India’s outreach risks legitimizing a regime with a controversial human rights record, particularly concerning women’s rights and political freedoms. However, supporters of the engagement may view it as a necessary step to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic challenges while securing India’s strategic interests.
As Muttaqi’s visit unfolds, the discussions in New Delhi will likely focus on practical outcomes, such as strengthening trade routes, enhancing cooperation on counterterrorism, and exploring opportunities for humanitarian assistance. India has a history of providing aid to Afghanistan, including food, medicines, and educational support, and these efforts may be expanded as part of the bilateral dialogue. Additionally, the talks may address regional security concerns, including the activities of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP), which poses a threat to both Afghanistan and its neighbors.
The broader implications of Muttaqi’s visit extend beyond India-Afghanistan relations. The engagement could set a precedent for how other nations approach the Taliban-led administration, particularly as global powers navigate the complexities of dealing with a government that remains largely unrecognized. For India, the visit represents an opportunity to assert its role as a key player in South Asia while addressing the challenges of a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
In conclusion, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to New Delhi from October 9 to October 16, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in India-Afghanistan relations. As the first visit by a senior Afghan diplomat since the Taliban’s return to power, it reflects a cautious but deliberate step toward dialogue and cooperation. With trade, security, and regional connectivity at the forefront of discussions, the visit has the potential to reshape bilateral ties and influence the broader geopolitical dynamics of South Asia. While challenges remain, including the question of recognition and concerns about governance in Afghanistan, the engagement underscores India’s pragmatic approach to navigating one of the region’s most complex political landscapes. As both nations seek to address shared challenges and opportunities, the outcomes of this visit could have far-reaching implications for stability and cooperation in the region.
